Rose plant--Meiflopan variety

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of shrub rose plant is provided which forms in the spring multiple attractive very double white blossoms per stem. The variety exhibits a semi-prostrate growth habit, and excellent resistance to diseases. An excellent aptitude for rooting and growing on its own roots is exhibited. The new variety is well adapted for growing as a landscape planting.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new variety of shrub rose plant of the present invention was createdby artificial pollination wherein two parents were crossed whichpreviously had been studied in the hope that they would contribute thedesired characteristics. The female parent (i.e., the seed parent) ofthe new variety was Rosa sempervirens. The male parent (i.e., the pollenparent) of the new variety was the Marthe Carron variety (non-patented).The parentage of the new variety can be summarized as follows:

    Rosa sempervirens×Marthe Carron.

The seeds resulting from the above pollination were sown and 3 plantletswere obtained which were physically and biologically different from eachother. Selective study resulted in the identification of a single plantof the new variety.

It was found that the new variety of shrub rose plant of the presentinvention possesses the following combination of characteristics:

(a) forms in the spring attractive very double white blossoms which areborne on a multiple basis per stem,

(b) exhibits a semi-prostrate growth habit,

(c) exhibits excellent resistance to diseases,

(d) exhibits an excellent aptitude for rooting and growing on its ownroots, and

(e) is particularly well suited for growing in the landscape.

The new variety well meets the needs of the horitcultural industry. Itcan be grown to advantage as an attractive ornamentation in parks,gardens, public areas, and residential landscapes. It is particularlywell suited for growing in the landscape.

The characteristics of the new variety have been found to be homogeneousand stable and are strictly transmissible by asexual propagation such asbudding, grafting, and cuttage from one generation to another.

The new variety has been named the Meiflopan variety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph shows, as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in a color illustration of this character,typical specimens of plant parts of the new variety. The rose plants ofthe new variety described herein were grown in the open air during Juneon their own roots at Cannet-des-Maures, Var, France.

FIG. 1 illustrates a specimen of a young shoot;

FIG. 2 illustrates a specimen of floral buds before the opening of thesepals;

FIG. 3 illustrates specimens of three floral buds at the opening of thesepals;

FIG. 4 illustrates specimens of three floral buds as the petals open;

FIG. 5 illustrates specimens of three flowers in the course of opening;

FIG. 6 illustrates specimens of two fully open flowers--planview--obverse;

FIG. 7 illustrates specimens of two fully open flowers--planview--reverse;

FIG. 8 illustrates a specimen of a fully open flower immediately priorto petal drop--plan view--obverse;

FIG. 9 illustrates a specimen of a fully open flower immediately priorto petal drop--plan view--reverse;

FIG. 10 illustrates a specimen of a floral receptacle showing thearrangement of the stamens and pistils;

FIG. 11 illustrates a specimen of a floral receptacle showing thearrangement of the pistils (stamens removed);

FIG. 12 illustrates a specimen of a flowering stem;

FIG. 13 illustrates a specimen of a main branch;

FIG. 14 illustrates a specimen of a leaf with three leaflets--planview--obverse;

FIG. 15 illustrates a specimen of a leaf with five leaflets--planview--obverse;

FIG. 16 illustrates a specimen of a leaf with seven leaflets--planview--reverse;

FIG. 17 illustrates a specimen of a leaf with nine leaflets--planview--observe (top) and reserve (bottom); and

FIG. 18 illustrates a specimen of a floral stem showing the multipleinflorescence.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of colors is that of the RoyalHorticultural Society (R.H.S. Colour Chart). The description is based onthree-year old specimens of the new variety during June while grown inthe open air on their own roots at Cannet-des-Maures, Var, France.

Class: Shrub.

Plant:

Height.--Approximately 120 to 150 cm. on average.

Habit.--Semi-prostrate.

Branches:

Color.--Young stems: lettuce green, Yellow-Green Group 144A. Adult wood:light green, Yellow-Green Group 146B.

Leaves:

Stipules.--Adnate, pectinate, wide and notched.

Petioles.--Upper surface: grooved, reddish-brown on young foliage,medium green on mature foliage with very glandular edges. Under surface:medium green with many glandular aciculas.

Leaflets.--Number: 3, 5, 7 (most often), and 9. Shape: Elliptical.Serration: simple and regular. Texture: firm. Overall appearance: densefoliage with a glossy aspect. Color (young foliage): upper surface:lettuce green, Yellow-Green Group 144A, edged with a reddish tint. Undersurface: lettuce green, Yellow-Green Group 144B, edged and more or lesssuffused with a reddish tint. Color (adult foliage): upper surface: darkgreen, Yellow-Green Group 147A. under surface: medium green,Yellow-Green Group 147B.

Inflorescence:

Number of flowers.--Approximately 8 to 15 blossoms per floral stem.

Peduncle.--Medium green, more or less shaded with red, straight, short,rigid, approximately 2 cm. in length.

Sepals.--Upper surface: tomentose and greenish. Under surface: mediumgreen with small glandular edges, the outside sepals commonly haveappendiculated edges.

Buds.--Shape: globular. Length: approximately 0.7 to 1.0 cm. on average.Size: small. Color (when opening): upper surface: white, White Group155B. under surface: white, White Group 155B.

Flower.--Form: very double, initially as a hollow cup and subsequentlybecomes more flattened. Diameter: approximately 3.5 to 4 cm. on average.Color (when opening begins): upper surface: white, White Group 155B.under surface: white, White Group 155B. Color (when blooming): uppersurface: white, White Group 155B. under surface: white, White Group155B. Color (at end of blooming): upper surface: white, White Group155B. under surface: white, White Group 155B. Fragrance: none. Flowerduration: long. Petal form: generally oval with more or less notchedmargins, central petals tend to be narrow and lance-shaped. Petaltexture: firm. Petal number: approximately 50 to 55 on average. Petaldrop: good. Stamen number: approximately 14 to 20 on average. Anthers:normal, yellowish. Filaments: straw colored, and of irregular heights.Pistils: approximately 10 on average. Stigmas: normal, straw colored,located under the anthers. Styles: greenish, of irregular heights.Receptacle: medium green, more or less reddish in coloration at thedehiscence of the anthers, and in longitudinal section it is pearshaped.

Development:

Vegetation.--Vigorous.

Blossoming.--Abundant and continuous.

Aptitude to bear fruits.--Slight to none.

Resistance to frost.--Normal.

Resistance to diseases.--Very good.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct variety of shrub rose plantcharacterized by the following combination of characteristics:(a) formsin the spring attractive very double white blossoms which are borne on amultiple basis per stem, (b) exhibits a semi-prostrate growth habit, (c)exhibits excellent resistance to diseases, (d) exhibits an excellentaptitude for rooting and growing on its own roots, and (e) isparticularly well suited for growing in the landscape;substantially asherein shown and described together with the parts thereof.